@otmarissa | Creator profile on Nutcake

What kind of content does Marissa Penny make?

Marissa Penny offers expert insights into pediatric occupational therapy and early intervention for parents of young children. On Instagram, she shares practical advice for navigating common challenges like picky eating and sensory needs, alongside engaging toddler activities designed to foster development. Marissa also provides valuable tips on pre-writing skills and traveling with little ones, all delivered with a warm, relatable tone that resonates with her audience.

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Part 3: involve them in the meal! (I know life gets hectic sometimes so I don’t expect it to work out for EVERY meal, I try to be intentional with him helping me for a couple dinners a week)

I don’t make a separate meal for him. I make one family meal and always include at least one safe food I know he’ll eat. That way his plate never feels completely unfamiliar.

Easy jobs he can do: Stirring, pouring, tearing, scooping, cutting soft foods with a toddler-safe knife. The job can be tiny! He loves being in his toddler tower while I cook so I just hand him a task while he’s up there.

THE WHY: When a picky eater interacts with food before it hits their plate (touching, smelling, watching it change), it removes some of the unfamiliarity, gives them a positive interaction with the food that can carry over into the actual meal.

👉 How do you involve your toddler at mealtimes?

This is part 3 of my picky eater series. Follow along for more!

#pickyeater #pickyeatertoddler #pediatricot #feedingtherapy #toddlermeals toddlermealideas

How are already at 30 weeks? This pregnancy is flying by! Here’s a little update and what I’m planning to use for this next baby! Please drop any recommendations and tag any brands that you love!! ❤️ #toddlermom #pregnantlife #30weekspregnant #baby #secondtimemom

If your toddler is constantly climbing, crashing, jumping off furniture, and seeking rough play, their body is telling you what it needs! (Or if they are just cranky and need a regulation boost).

As a pediatric OT, two of my favorite sensory systems to target for high energy kids are proprioception (input from muscles and joints) and vestibular input (input from movement and changes in head position).

Here are 5 activities you can do at home today with zero equipment:
✨ Couch cushion crash pad
✨ Heavy work with a laundry basket
✨ Animal walks (bear walks, frog jumps, crab walks)
✨ Pillow squish sandwich
✨ Blanket swing
✨ Blanket burrito

These are all free and can be done right in your living room. If your toddler seems like they can never sit still, try adding a few of these into your daily routine. This also helped my cranky toddler turn his mood around for the morning! Great for regulation for kids with all different types of sensory needs.

Which one are you trying first?? Let me know!

👋🏼 Hi! I’m Marissa, a pediatric OT with a focus on early intervention (ages 0-3). Follow for more practical developmental tips!

#pediatricot #occupationaltherapist #sensoryseeker #proprioception #toddleractivities

If your toddler can’t sit still at mealtimes or asks to get down after 2 minutes, check their chair before assuming it’s just behavior!

When a child’s feet are dangling, their core has to work in overdrive just to keep them upright. The goal is the 90-90-90 rule: hips, knees, and ankles all supported at roughly 90 degree angles.

Simple ways to modify the chair you already have:
✅Foot support: if using a booster seat, tape a sturdy cardboard box, a yoga block, or a stack of books to the existing footrest or chair rung so their feet can rest flat.
✅Resistance band: wrap a thick exercise band around the front chair legs for them to rest their feet on
✅Back support: place a rolled-up small towel or pillow behind their lower back to help bring them forward and upright
✅Table height: make sure the tray or table sits between their belly button and chest level so their elbows rest comfortably.

👀Comment CHAIR and I’ll send you the link to the adjustable high chair we use with Ollie! It’s adjustable at the foot plate and the seat, so it will grow with your child for years to come.

👋🏼 Hi! I’m Marissa, a pediatric OT with a focus on early intervention (ages 0-3). Follow for more practical developmental tips!

#pediatricot #feedingtherapy #pickyeaters #toddlermealtime #highchair

Who is Marissa Penny’s audience?

Marissa Penny's audience is likely comprised of parents and caregivers actively seeking practical advice and resources for child development, particularly for toddlers. Their intent signals are strong, indicated by a high engagement rate of 4.78% on Instagram, significantly exceeding benchmarks for platforms like TikTok (~3.0%) and YouTube (~2.0%). This suggests a highly invested and receptive community, eager for actionable parenting tips and activity ideas. The quality of engagement is therefore expected to be high, with users likely to comment, save content, and potentially seek out further resources.

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